Preseason

2014 Preseason, Bradenton: Day 12

Thursday morning marked a team regeneration session following Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Swedish Champion Malmö FF. In total, 22 different players saw action in the friendly and the only action of the trip to Bradenton. Following a run and a dip in the ocean, the team returned for lunch and an afternoon weight-lifting session.

IMPORTANT PART OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS

Thursday marked the end of the visit in Bradenton from Dayton Dutch Lions Head Coach Sid van Druenen. After spending two days of training and being completely immersed with the Crew, the new Dutch Lions boss also had a chance to watch the Crew’s tilt against Malmö.

The time in training and the friendly were vital parts of the overall evaluation process.

“Not only [seeing] the game but both of the training sessions that I attended,” said van Druenen. “Seeing the guys play is a very important thing for the future to decide who will end up playing with us in 2014."

As the Black & Gold enter their first year of the partnership with Dayton, the preseason trip was the first step in establishing the family atmosphere of the club.

“I think it was very positive. I think it was very important as well because now I can put a face to the name of all staff members and players,” he continued. “I was very well received and I’m happy about that as well. I think it was a very important two days.”

FRANKIE HAWK

In case you missed it, Frankie Hejduk took to a local Bradenton skatepark on Thursday afternoon. While Hejduk has plenty of energy and often gives fans the sense that nothing is impossible for the Crew legend, Hejduk, 39, deserves more than a little credit for his work in the skate parkbowl.

The Black & Gold get back at it for a full session on Friday before departing in the afternoon for Columbus. The Crew trains for one week in Columbus before a return trip to Florida for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando.

For more photos from the trip, be sure to check-out the Crew’s Facebook and Instagram page for galleries galore from the team’s two-week efforts in Bradenton.